No Turning Back (Rewrite)

Chapter 15

When I initially invited Jayden to come over, I hadn't thought about the cluttered mess in our den. Over the years, our den has been the prime hangout spot for me and my friends. In elementary school, we used it as a place for sleepovers. We'd set up blanket forts on the floor and stay up late watching movies or playing video games. In middle school, we used it as a refuge for relaxation after hours of playing basketball. During our high school years, we stopped coming down here. We started attending parties at others' houses and celebrating our basketball wins at local diners. Now, the den was mainly occupied by Donnie. His toys and blankets were scattered around the couches and the carpeted floor. Some of my sports magazines and novels were wedged in between Donnie's belongings.

With a heavy sigh, I regretted inviting Jayden over. Sure, we could've watched the movie upstairs in the living room. But I preferred to stay down here. At least we could have some privacy in case my parents decided they wanted to be home today. I could already imagine my father's suspicious brow and my mother's curled lips if they saw us together. Jayden would question those looks if he saw them. Perhaps he wouldn't be fazed if I had to reassure my parents that he was just a classmate – as it was the truth, but still... I didn't want him wondering why I had to explain in the first place.

Despite my concerns about the invitation, I refused to cancel our plans. Cleaning up the den wouldn't kill me. It was a task that needed to be done.

I spent Saturday morning tidying up. I recruited Donnie in gathering his toys and carrying them back into his room. While he took care of his own messes, I retrieved my abundance of discarded magazines and books. I threw them into a box and lugged them upstairs into my closet. With our stuff out of the way, the den looked much better.

My parents' college memorabilia were the main décor. One of the bookshelves were dedicated to my mother's academic awards and my father's basketball trophies. Tapestries and flags representing Cornell University decorated the walls. Their framed degrees hung beside the flat screen television. A throw blanket lay over the back cushions of the couch, sporting Cornell's signature seal.

Now that the den looked presentable, I diverted my worries to snacks and drinks. I raided the kitchen pantry for chips and pastries Jayden might like. A frown threatened to pull at my lips as I realized I didn't know much about him. What was his favorite color? What was his favorite type of chips? Did he prefer tea or coffee? What was his favorite food? What his favorite type of music? From the beats in his headphones, I assumed it was hip-hop and rap, but was there other genres he enjoyed? Dammit, why did I even care?

I lay out a bag of barbecue chips and hot cheese curls on the coffee table in the den. I carried down the unopened liter of Mountain Dew and some plastic cups. If we needed more food, I could always order some.

By the time I'd finished setting up the den, a knock at the door echoed through the house.

I quickly dusted off my shirt as I rushed up the steps.

My brother stood at the top of the stairwell. "Danny, there's someone at the door," he exclaimed. He followed me to the front door.

Behind the door stood Jayden with a box of pizza in one hand and a liter of Coca-Cola in the other. His usual uniform had been replaced with a loose Kendrick Lamar tour tee shirt and baggy black sweatpants. His green eyes stood out against the dark color of his clothing and curls. "Hey," he greeted when I only stared. "I brought dinner."

"I see. Um, thanks." I moved aside, so he could step in. My eyes lingered on his attire as I retrieved the box of pizza from him. The mouth-watering scent of the greasy meal couldn't distract my nose from the fresh scent of Old Spice radiating from Jayden's skin. I barely noticed the damp texture of his hair. My fingers itched to push back the curls sticking to his forehead.